The UConn women's basketball team has performed at such an incredibly high level over the past two decades, that unrealistic or unfair expectations now seem to categorize each season within a very narrow scope of success.

Seasons no longer seem to be recognized by number of wins, NCAA Tournament appearances or even league championships but within these limited categories: 1. Successful rebuilding year with trip to the Final Four; 2. Something less and disappointing; 3. Something more ending with a national championship; or, 4. A magical journey.

It appears that everything is in place once again for one of those magical seasons.

Coach Geno Auriemma cringes at the fact that fans and pundits want to simply advance the Huskies to the national championship game against Baylor. That's presumptuous and disrespectful to the rest of the teams in the country. By the same token, Auriemma isn't downplaying the talent or the potential of this year's team.

His confidence in this team's talent, chemistry and competitive drive certainly is heightening expectations. Even if an inevitable showdown with Baylor looms, the Huskies have a few important questions to answer in order to provide a happy ending to their journey:

1. Will the interior post game become more dynamic?: Last season, center Stefanie Dolson was left on an island far too often as the other post players on the team failed to play with any consistency. With Maya Moore gone and no one else producing in the post, defenses sagged in on Dolson or double-teamed her, thus making the Huskies a more one-dimension, perimeter-oriented team.

Playing with much more energy and determination at the end of the season, Dolson provided some post presence, but it wasn't enough. She did her part during the offseason to get into the best shape of her career so she can play harder for longer.

It also appears the Huskies will have a lot more options to help her. The nation's top recruit, 6-4 center Breanna Stewart has shown incredible potential, and fellow freshman, 6-2 forward Morgan Tuck, has performed even better during the preseason. If sophomore Kiah Stokes has overcome her tentative nature from a year ago, UConn could now have the best overall post game in the country.

2. Will Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis avoid the sophomore slump?: At times during her freshman season, Mosqueda-Lewis was UConn's best player, and she ultimately finished as the Huskies' leading scorer. With her sturdy six-foot frame and her smooth 3-point shot, she can be a menace for opposing defenses.

However, last season she performed without the pressures with which every UConn star player must learn to cope. As a sophomore, there will be expectations that could be more daunting than the opposing defenses that will be focused on her. She said she wants to be an All-American, to which Auriemma responded that she better focus instead on becoming a better rebounder, defender and dynamic offensive player. She has the ability. Now we found out if she has the poise.

3. Who is the point guard?: Bria Hartley is considered one of the best point guards in the country. Unfortunately, she is much better suited to play shooting guard where she can work harder to get herself open for shots than creating for others.

Fifth-year senior Caroline Doty is perfectly suited to run the team, but her health is always a concern. How much can she play? Is she confident enough about her knee now to allow her to focus on making the team better rather than worrying about how her own game needs to change as a result of her knee injuries? In the right frame of mind and a relatively pain-free body, she could be the ideal point guard.

Two huge X-factors at the position are sophomore Brianna Banks and freshman Moriah Jefferson. Several players have said Banks is the most improved player on the team due to hard work and improved confidence. Jefferson was considered the best point guard recruit in the country, but she needs to learn the system and figure out how to harness her speed.

4. Can the Huskies beat Baylor?: They came as close as anyone last season but ultimately fell short at the end, unable to cope with both 6-8 center Brittney Griner (25 points) and the Lady Bears very talented and confident point guard Odyssey Sims (23 points). And as a team, Baylor will play with a lot of confidence coming off a 40-0 season.

The Huskies will play Baylor at the XL Center Feb. 18, which gives their post players long enough to figure out how well they can play together. If Stewart emerges as a force alongside of Dolson and if Dolson can learn to play without getting into foul trouble, UConn has a legitimate chance. If Hartley, Jefferson or Banks can utilize their athletic abilities to contain Sims, the Lady Bears' win streak could end.

UConn appears to have the better complementary players and more depth of talent, but ultimately Griner can dominate and impact games on a lot of levels.

5. Do they have the poise for big games?: The Huskies' biggest weakness last season was their lack of the type of chemistry that would allow them to play through adversity. In difficult situations, they never seemed to be able to get enough players on the same page, and as a result they failed to close out their biggest games.

They finished with an unusually high number of losses (5), but in four of the five losses — Baylor, St. John's and two against Notre Dame — they had the lead in the second half and just couldn't hold on.

The most noteworthy were at Baylor, where they led by 11 with 13:17 to play and at the Final Four where they led Notre Dame in the final minute but lost their poise.

This year's team appears to be more confident, focused and determined. More importantly, they appear to have each other's backs, which could be the magical key.

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